Brittany Smalls, PhD, MHSA, MSHPsych

As a health services researcher with a background in anthropology and health psychology, Dr. Smalls’ expertise involves the social environmental determinants of health, such as social support, social networks, and community/neighborhood factors that contribute health behaviors and outcomes. She has leveraged her knowledge to assess how the social environment disproportionately effects vulnerable populations, particularly older adults, living with complex chronic conditions with the goal of mitigating health inequities. Dr. Smalls’ transdisciplinary background and diverse work experiences have prepared her to undertake complex and innovative social and behavioral research approaches.

Dr. Smalls is an eminent scholar and the lead investigator for the Oasis Research Group where the focus in on understanding and addressing social environment determinants among rural communities. She was a recipient of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (1K01DK116923; PI: Smalls) titled, Social Network Analysis and Social Support Intervention for Rural Dwelling Older Adults with T2DM. This research focused on utilizing social network analysis to understand the role of social support as it relates to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-care behaviors among older rural dwelling adults living in Appalachia Kentucky. The research from her mentored career development award was leveraged to successfully compete for additional funding from NIDDK and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Dr. Smalls’ ongoing funding includes two innovative approaches to leveraging social support to promote optimal health behaviors among rural residents. Funding from the NIDDK is supporting her research entitled, Older Adults Using Social Support to Improve Self-Care (OASIS): Adaption, Implementation, and Feasibility of Peer Support for Older Adults with T2DM in Appalachia (1 R01 DK135885-01; MPI: Smalls, Kruse-Diehr). The goal of this research is to use a multifactorial design to test cultural adaptive components of peer support intervention for rural dwelling older adults in Appalachian Kentucky. Additional funding from the ADA is supporting an ongoing project titled, Addressing Intergenerational Obesity and Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Among Individuals Living with Diabetes in Appalachia Kentucky (11-22-ICTSN-24; PI: Smalls). The goal of this study is to understand social and environmental barriers to nutrition and physical activities within rural communities in Kentucky. To achieve this, Dr. Smalls and her team will leverage existing community resources, engage Kentucky Cooperative Extension agents, as well as provide rural households with medical nutrition therapy and practical physical activity plans to support healthy lifestyles. In addition to these projects, Dr. Smalls has been the benefactor of partnerships with Kentucky Aetna Better Health to work on projects to extend diabetes education into rural communities via telehealth and create mHealth solutions for adolescents who are at risk for cardiometabolic disorders.

In addition to her research, Dr. Smalls has participated in various training activities focused on leadership and addressing health inequities. These experiences include being selected as an Advanced Health Disparities Scholar for the Arizona Program for Inclusion and Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (AZ-PRDIE) as well as being selected as a Fellow for both the American Psychological Association’s Leadership and Education Advancement Program (LEAP) and the NIH/National Medical Association Career Development Program. Notably Dr. Smalls has completed the Implementation Science Scholar (IS-2) Program via Washington University at St. Louis, which has provided knowledge that has been instrumental in the development of community-based implementation science interventions seen in her research. 

In addition to research and leadership skills, the aforementioned training opportunities provided invaluable skills that have been integral in Dr. Smalls’ role as a mentor and facilitator for career development activities. Such roles include Core Faculty for the UK Center of Health Equity Transformation; Co-Director for the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science’s Disparities Researchers Equalizing Access for Minorities (DREAM) Scholars Program, which supports underrepresented early-stage investigators and trainees who have committed their careers to health disparities research; and as a mentor for the Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky, where she mentors community leaders on how to conduct research and employ community-based programs. In these roles, Dr. Smalls provides mentorship and support to those seeking to engage in research and provide guidance on the development of scholarly work (e.g., peer reviewed publications, conference abstracts, grants). Her commitment to mentorship has been recognized by her mentees, who nominated her for the UK College of Medicine Academy of Medical Educator Excellence in Medical Educator Award in Mentoring, which she received in 2020. Most recently, Dr. Smalls was one of the first investigators to receive the 5-year NIH Investigator Award to Support Mentoring of Early Career Researchers from Diverse Backgrounds (K26). This award supports Dr. Smalls’ continued efforts to mentor diverse trainees at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, and junior faculty level from across the country. Dr. Smalls’ excellence in research, leadership, and mentorship has been noted and reflected in her being awarded the Dr. Claire Louise Caudill Professorship in Family Medicine (2023-2029).